5 Fresh Minimalist Brands You Need to Know

From a designer with a Celine pedigree to sustainability out of Los Angeles, here are five labels keeping minimalism alive and well—and raising the bar on simplicity.

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1 ARIAS

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ARIAS is a collection of luxury staples designed by San Fran born Nina Sarin Arias. “I love clean lines and showcasing construction details—it’s the foundation of my brand,” she explains, “My favorite artist is Josef Albers and I often draw inspiration from his work with clean lines paired with powerful color stories.”

With an MBA from London Business School with a design degree from Parsons, she designs for the cerebral chic woman. She also has an impressive CV that includes stints at Burberry and Cartier. The designer’s first collection for Fall 2017 launch mixes architectural sweatshirts with clean button-downs, sheer fabrics, asymmetrical hems, curved sleeves, raw edging and more tailored pieces for a modern look at laid back ease.

2Arjé

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Designers Bessie and Oliver are a husband and wife duo who launched Arjé under a see-now, buy-now model less than six months ago.

The silky, streamlined men’s and women’s line flips completely every four months to keep anticipation high and excess, wastage and discounting to a minimum.

With one season under their belt, the pair have dipped a toe in the brick and mortar landscape with a summer wardrobe essentials collection pop up available at 262 Mott Street in NYC, which offers pieces in a soft beachy palette until the end of July. Each item comes with a hidden evil eye inlaid at the foot to keep out the riff raff.

3LACAUSA

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La Causa in Spanish translates to “the cause,” which means this LA brand, “makes quality garments with California ease, always under ethical conditions.” The mainly basics line is a few years old and brings a certain Cali cool to simple pieces. Fabrics are sourced “from trusted partners” and sewn in a Los Angeles factory. The core collection is offered in viscose chiffon, vintage and gauze jersey, and soft slip fabrics. The brand asks that you “free your inner tomboy and find your wistful romantic,” which we feel like we did in a fun, light-pink slip jumpsuit.

4Monographie

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Monographie is considered a mono-label, offering shirting only—but with serious attention to detail. Founded and creative directed by the very Parisian Aude Casteja, the brand brings with it Casteja’s experience in marketing at Céline and design degree from ESMOD fashion school. For its second season, launching for Fall 2017, the pieces are once again made in an atelier in Portugal, and come in classic shapes as well as off the shoulder and tunic styles with interesting button details, ruffles and statement sleeves in a clean palette of black and white. In the US, it launched exclusively with Opening Ceremony, and this month is launching with Barneys.

5The Great Eros

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A new brand and concept store in Williamsburg named for the god of love, The Great Eros offers a curated selection of lingerie, sweaters, fine jewelry and sensual objects—but it’s their in house brand that has our minimalist ears perked. The company is designed and built by founders Emilio Ramirez (former owner of Personnel of New York) and Christina Viviani (former designer of CV New York / Curriculum Vitae).

Designer Christina Viviani formerly worked at Donna Karan and says, “Fabric is my first love—it is the basis for how I start each design process.” She maintains that the mastery of lingerie design was important to her before moving onto ready-to-wear,”When it comes to my process, under garments have always played a significant role as a foundation and source of inspiration. I maintained the belief that I would not be able to move on to RTW until I mastered fit and construction of a bra or underwear that flattered all body types…RTW naturally became the next role.” And we couldn’t be happier it did. .

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